Section
Costs and taxes of buying property in Spain
Quick answer
A resale home carries a regional transfer tax (ITP), a new home carries VAT and stamp duty on the deed, and fees are paid on top of both. Budget the tax from the rate in the home's region, and ask for written quotes for the fees.
Applies toAnyone budgeting for a purchase in Spain, resident or not. Annual taxes, taxes on selling and non-resident taxes have their own sections, which will be added as they are checked.
On this page: 8 sections
§ 1Two questions decide most of the cost
The first is what kind of home you are buying. A first sale of a new home by the developer carries VAT, while a home sold by an earlier owner carries the transfer tax of the region where it stands. The second is which region. The transfer tax rate, and the reductions for young buyers, families and main homes, are set by each region, and they differ more than most buyers expect.
The tax agency explains the dividing line between the two taxes, and this section builds on it. The rate of VAT on new homes is 10%, and the stamp duty on the deed is added on top, at a rate set by the region.
§ 2The tax base is not always the price
For resale, the tax base is the higher of the official reference value and the price paid, under the 2021 anti-fraud law. A low price on the contract does not reduce the tax if the reference value is higher. Before you agree a price, ask your adviser what the reference value of the home is.
§ 3Where to start
Start with the costs of buying, which lists every cost around a purchase, shows how to build a budget and explains which parts are taxes and which are fees. Then read ITP, the resale transfer tax, which sets out how it works and gives the verified rate for each region we have checked.
The taxes on a new home have their own chapter, taxes on new builds, which covers VAT, stamp duty on the deed and the Canary Islands.
§ 4More chapters in this section
The tax on the rise in land value that a seller meets is explained in the municipal land-value tax, and the fees of the notary, the registry, a lawyer and a gestor are covered in the fees of the professionals.
The bills that repeat every year, from the property tax to community charges, are covered in the taxes and costs of owning.
§ 5Owners, sellers and heirs
The taxes a non-resident owner pays each year are explained in non-resident taxes, and the tax on the profit when you sell is explained in capital gains tax on a sale.
The tax on inheritances and gifts is explained in inheritance and gift tax.
§ 6What is not here yet
Some figures are not printed yet, because we could not trace them to an official source. Where that is the case, the page says so. This section does not guess at them.
§ 7How the rates are checked
Every rate on these pages comes from the tax authority of the region or from the text of the law, and each page lists the source with the date we last checked it. A rate announced but not yet in force is marked as a proposal. If you spot a rate that is out of date, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it and log the change.
§ 8Who this section is for
The section is written for buyers who read English and will deal with Spanish notaries, registries and tax offices. It uses the Spanish names of the taxes, explains them in plain terms and gives the English words readers meet in other countries, such as stamp duty. It is not a substitute for a tax adviser, who can calculate the figure for your own purchase, but it should let you understand what the adviser tells you and check that the numbers are in the right range.
FAQRelated questions
How much should I budget on top of the price?
It depends on the type of home and the region, so there is no honest single figure. Take the regional rate for a resale or the VAT rate for a new home, add the deed tax, then add written quotes for the notary, registry and lawyer.
Is the tax based on the price I pay?
Not always. On a resale an official valuation can replace the contract price when it is higher, so a low price on paper does not cut the tax. Ask your adviser to check that valuation before you commit.
When is the tax paid?
After signing. The registrars' guide gives 30 working days as the usual deadline, which varies by region, and your lawyer or gestor normally files the return. Keep cash aside for it, because registration waits for it.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Ley 11/2021 de prevención y lucha contra el fraude fiscal (BOE-A-2021-11473) (official source, opens in a new window), Reference value as ITP tax baseLast checked 17 October 2026
- Colegio de Registradores de España: Cómo comprar una vivienda en España (edición revisada, February 2020) (official source, opens in a new window), The five steps, nota simple, taxes and costsLast checked 17 October 2026
- Agencia Tributaria: Compro una vivienda: ¿tengo que pagar IVA o ITP? (official source, opens in a new window), Calificación IVA / ITPLast checked 17 October 2026
Tax note. Rates depend on the region, the type of property and the buyer, and they change. Figures here are dated and sourced; examples are illustrative and show their assumptions. Confirm yours with the regional tax agency or a tax adviser.